Jenna Ortega and Rose Byrne team up for a Whiplash-style thriller from an acclaimed director

If you told me 'Jenna Ortega and Rose Byrne are teaming up for a film described as “like Whiplash”, but in the Olympic gymnastics world,' I’d probably do a double take myself. But that’s exactly what’s happening – and there’s more than a few eyebrow-raisers tucked inside the announcement.

The Lowdown: Nasty Gets Mean on the Mat

So, the film’s called Nasty. Not subtle. It’s a psychological thriller set in the cut-throat (or possibly cut-ankle?) world of elite gymnastics, with Ortega and Byrne both on board to lead. The official logline basically lays it out: an up-and-coming gymnast, desperate for an Olympic spot, faces her toughest challenge in the shape of her own coach. If you’re getting echoes of Whiplash (that cracker where J.K. Simmons basically bullied Miles Teller into greatness), you’re not alone – the studio is angling hard for that vibe.

Who's Behind It?

• Director: Mary Bronstein. She and Rose Byrne have form: their last project together, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, netted Byrne an Oscar nomination. Bronstein’s a bit of an indie oddball – her earlier film Yeast (also starring a pre-fame Greta Gerwig) made some waves on the festival circuit for being, well, a bit weird.
• Writer: Isabella Jarosz, making their feature debut. Nasty’s script surfaced on the 2024 Black List (basically the industry’s list of the best unproduced scripts knocking about each year).
• Producer: Jenna Ortega herself, working with Margot Robbie's LuckyChap (so, the same producing team behind Promising Young Woman and Barbie, not a bad sign).
• Studio: Warner Bros. Clockwork – one of those boutique offshoots, run by a trio of ex-Neon execs (Christian Parkes, Jason Wald, Spencer Collantes). They’re making a bit of noise lately, not least for planning a fancy 4K reissue of Ken Russell’s deeply unhinged The Devils.

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Filming is supposed to kick off this autumn. There’s no word yet on a release date, so don’t expect to see this any time before late 2025 at the absolute earliest.

Bronstein herself did the announcement poster art, and posted it to socials with this not-exactly-cuddly slogan: "If you don’t hate it, you don’t love it." I’m not sure if that’s meant to sell the film or ward off the faint of heart. Fits the theme, I suppose.

What Are Byrne and Ortega Up To Next?

Byrne’s keeping busy, showing up next in Peacock’s The Good Daughter. Meanwhile, Jenna Ortega (whose star keeps rising) is next leading the sci-fi comedy Klara and the Sun.